Means for preventing whipping out of ends of flags.



T. G. GowEN. MEANS FOR PR'EVENTING WHIPPING OUT 0F ENDS 0F FLAGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1917.

Patented July-2, 1918.

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THOMAS GOWJE?, F BOQNVILLE, INDIANA.

MEANS FOB PREVENTINC? VHIPPING OUT OF 0F FLAGS.

Specincation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application tiled September 6, 1917. Serial No. 189,924.

To all whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS Gr. Gon/EN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boonville, in the county of Warrick and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Pre.-venting Whi-ppin Out of Ends of Flags; and I do hereby eclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention is in the nature of an in provement in flags and theobject of the inventionds to provide means whereby a flag will beprevented :from whipping in the wind, and thus `tearing the outer end.

With this object in view the invention consists in the improvedconstruction arrangement and combination of parts 'o and for attachmentto flags, which will be hereinafter fully described and afterwardparticularly claimed.

In order that the construction and operation thereof may be readilycomprehended,

I have illustrated an approved embodiment of my invention, withmodifications thereof, in the accompanying drawings and will now proceedto fully describe the same in connection with said drawings in which-Figure 1 represents a United States flag on a pole extended as by thewind, and equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary view showing a small partiof the outer end of theflag of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, parts being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale on a verticalplane parallel with the outer end of the flag;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectionalview on a horizontal plane cuttingthrough the flag near the vouter end thereof;

Fig. 5, a View similar to Fig. 2, of a slight modificationofthe'strncture illustrated.

Like reference characters denote the same parts in all of the figuresoi. the drawings.

Referringuparticularly to the drawings '7 indicates a S. flag comprisingthe usual starry field 8, and the thirteen red and whitev stripes 9 and10.

At the outer ends of the stripes. and consequently of the Hag, I havenstructed pockets 11, on each stripe on one side of the flag, 4andsimilar pockets 12, on each str1 e on the other side of the flag, asshown 1n lgs.

l, 2, 3 and 4, although I may omit they white stripe on each side of theiag.

At 18 I show eyelets at suitable points in the inflated parts tofacilitate drainage of such parts in the event that they become floodedby heavy rains.

It will be observed that all of the pockets are located at the outer endof the flag and are open toward the pole to catch the wind and thus tobecome inflated and form, as it were, wind bags. The whipping of a fingin the wind somewhat resembles the crackingr of a whip, and tears theend of the' flag. It is obvious that inflated pockets, or wind bags,cannot crack or pop like a whip lash and consequently, by means of myconstruction, the flag is saved from whipping or cracking andconsequently :from tearing out or damaging the outer end.

By means of the inflated pockets I present a resistance to the wind7thus creating tension in the flag between the extreme loose end and poleor fastened end, and as the forcent' the wind varies, this tensionautomatically varies, thus preventing the loose end of the flag fromdoubling back to or against the side thereof, and whipping out asv thewave passes out to the end of the flag.

All the pockets contemplated by me will be made of the same material andcolor as the stripes upon which they are placed, whereby the appearanceof' the fing will not be marred.

It will be obvious that other changes and mm'lifications may be made inthe makeup oi my invention, without departing from its spirit, so longas such changes or modifications fall within the scope of the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States, 1s-- 1. A flagprovided with a pocket at its outer end, closed on all sides evi-"cptthat faeis i l 1,270,813

ing toward the Wind when the flag is hoisted', whereby Said pocket willbe inflated by the Wind.

2. A ag'provided With a series of pockets extending across its outerend, said pockets being open toward the inner or pole end .of the flagand closed on all other sides.

3. A flag provided With a series of pockets extending across its outerend, said pockets being open toward the inner or pole end of the flagand closed Von all othery sides, each of said pockets being located uponone of the red and white stripes'of the flag.

4. A flag provided with a series of pockets extending across its outerend, said pockets being' open toward the inner or pole end of the flagand closed on all other sides, each of said pockets being located uponone of.

the red and White' stripes of the flag, and there being two pockets uponeach of said stripes. v Y `5. A flag 'provided with a pocket at itsouter end comprising a tube extending along a stripe of the fia and opentoward the inner or pole end o? the Hag.

In testimony Whereof-I'l1ave signed vmy nameto this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing lWitnesses.

i THOMAS G, GOWEN. -v

Witnesses:

' D. LArrooN,

CHARLES H. TAYLOR..

Copies of thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Weisman, E.

